The NBA has changed quite a big since DeAndre Jordan entered the league back in 2008. Although his current team, the Brooklyn Nets, carry two true bigs — and Nic Claxton, who also helps out a lot down low — other teams are starting to value those players less and less across the league.
Golden State’s run in the past decade, the overall increase in skill in the NBA, the rise of the pick-and-roll, and the increased usage of analytics in basketball are what’s led to the attack against bigs who solely hang out down low on offense and can’t guard the perimeter on defense.
And Houston has taken things to another level.
The Rockets traded Clint Capela, a valued big man throughout the NBA, at the deadline and acquired Robert Covington from the Minnesota Timberwolves — in a 12-players, four-team trade.
Houston still has bigs on their roster, but their top lineup doesn’t include anyone over 6-foot-7. It’s an odd sight, even with the way the league has trended with positionless basketball.
But DeAndre Jordan wouldn’t even call what Houston is doing a trend, per Peter Botte of the New York Post. Because they’re the only ones doing it:
One team is doing that. That’s the direction of the NBA?
Jordan continued:
I’m just saying if one team out of 30 goes small, that don’t mean everybody else is doing it. So I don’t care, nor do I agree with that statement.
Jordan and the Nets don’t have to worry about Houston’s approach again in the regular season. They’ve already played each other twice and split their season series 1-1.